It became pretty clear that WR was the strength of this class with 6 going in the 1st round, then the reaches for RB came in the 2nd. So this year I’m grading on a curve, snagging WR’s gets a bump in grade, RBs whose value really should have pushed them to the 3rd or UDFA if there wasn’t such a shortage at the position…demerits for you!
Noss: This is the only class where RB did not ding the grade, consensus #1 fantasy player by both fantasy community and actual NFL front offices gets taken at #1. Fields is nice value in the 3rd, likely only available because of the run on RB in the 2nd. Grade: B+
1.1 RB Jeremiyah Love – Cardinals
2.1 TE Eli Stowers – Eagles
3.1 WR Malachi Fields – Giants
Mars: With the most picks in this year’s draft and look at all those WR’s. A thing of beauty and really the only thing keeping this from an A+ is that 3rd round kinda fell apart, but Mars got more value in the 1st 2 rounds than half the league got the entire draft. Grade: A
1.2 WR Carnell Tate – Titans
2.2 WR Denzel Boston – Browns
2.7 WR Antonio Williams – Commanders
3.2 QB Ty Simpson – Rams
3.8 RB Desmond Claiborne – Vikings
Link: The Tate/Lemon/Tyson watch is on!! Did just notice a typo in pick 3.3, but deciding to leave it. Grade: A-
1.3 WR Makai Lemon – Eagles
3.3 WR Skyler Bill – Bills
North: I had this as an A to start because of what I believe to be a reach at 2.9 just to fill the roster spot at the RB position, but Tyson on the Saints, Sadiq on the Jets and Sarratt on the Ravens…there’s a lot of volume going to go through those guy’s hands. And I actually liked Sarratt over Omar Cooper until the combine told us Cooper was the superior athlete. Grade: A+
1.4 WR Jordyn Tyson – Saints
1.8 TE Kenyon Sadiq – Jets
2.8 WR Elijah Sarratt – Ravens
2.9 RB Kayton Allen – Commanders
Archer: 1.5 was never going to be an enviable spot to be drafting, knowing what was going to happen in picks 1 through 4 with the only thing subject to change being the order. Some nice value getting Bernard in the 3rd being the only saving grace from this being a disaster just based on how the chips fell. Grade: D+
1.5 RB Jadarian Price – Seahawks
3.4 WR Germie Bernard – Steelers
3.5 TE Max Klare – Rams
Dud: The Browns are going to have a similar issue on their hands as the Bears just when it comes to mouths to feed. Bears fantasy production was held above water by Caleb Williams, something the Browns don’t have. Then we get to Washington, who might be the best RB of the class not named love, but he’s nothing more than a Jeanty handicap for at least 2 years. Grade: C
1.6 WR KC Concepcion – Browns
3.6 RB Mike Washington – Raiders
3.9 WR Brenen Thompson – Chargers
Hoodie: Noticing Hoodie is sneaking around in the shadows with the pairing Omar Cooper with Garrett Wilson and Jonah Coleman with RJ Harvey. This makes me excited for the schedule to get released this week, hoping this is the matchup when my best players are on bye. Grade: C+
1.7 WR Omar Cooper – Jets
2.3 RB Jonah Coleman – Broncos
CGC: Going through this exercise and seeing these results show everything you’re not supposed to do with this draft class. One of these years CGC will hit on a Chiefs drafted RB. Grade: C-
1.9 QB Fernando Mendoza – Raiders
2.4 RB Emmett Johnson – Chiefs
2.5 WR Ted Hurst – Buccaneers
Thumbs: Well, well, well, thanks for joining us this year! I believe going into day 1, Luciano only had pick 3.7 but that’s not stopping him. Thumbs might be higher than Dolphins fans on 1-ACL-Deebo, but the draft is all about finding your guys and sticking to your guns. Grade: B
1.10 WR Chris Bell – Dolphins
2.6 RB Nicholas Singleton – Titans
2.10 WR De’Zhaun Stribliing – 49ers
3.7 RB Adam Randall – Ravens
Finfan: Mr. Irrelevant being on Browns-South, another team with many mouths to feed doesn’t bode well. I did like what I saw from Branch at the combine, but there seems to be too many red flags for the stars to align on this one panning out. Grade: D-
3.10 WR Zachariah Branch – Falcons